NHHC Underwater Archaeology Branch

10/07/2021

The National Museum of the American Sailor (NMAS) is celebrating six months of Scuttlebutt & a Cup O’ Joe podcast. Take a listen as the host chats with our stellar archaeological conservators from the Naval History and Heritage Command’s Underwater Archaeology (UA) Branch!

Discover how UA breathes new life into old artifacts in their high-tech lab. And be sure to visit NMAS' YouTube page to catch up on past Scuttlebutt & A Cup O' Joe episodes:
https://fb.watch/8v21Dsf5gy/

#ScuttlebuttAndACupOJoe
#NavyMuseumFromHome
https://bit.ly/3iKXAon

10/06/2021

Mystery of the USS Nina | UDaily

This article by the University of Delaware (UDel) discusses how the partnership between UDel, U.S. Navy, and SEARCH led to a successful documentation of the USS Nina. The interdisciplinary work used autonomous underwater vehicles (AUV), remotely operated vehicle (ROV) systems, and a drone to document their efforts and the wreck which lies off the coast of Delaware and Maryland. Partnerships such as these give real world experience to students and as well as generating valuable data to help protect and preserve wreck sites.

UD-led research team identifies the site of 1910 shipwreck off the coast of Delaware

09/28/2021

Two new Archaeologist positions at the NHHC Underwater Archaeology Branch in Washington, D.C. have been posted on USA Jobs. The application period opens September 29th and closes October 8th. If you are interested in applying, please refer to the two USA Jobs links below. The positions are different so review both announcements carefully.

Archaeologist GS-12:
https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/615206100
Archaeologist GS-11: https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/615443800

07/26/2021

25 Years in the Making: The U.S. Navy’s Underwater Archaeology Program

Happy 25th Anniversary to our Underwater Archaeology Branch! 🎉
In the post below, Dr. Alexis Catsambis weaves a complex narrative about the fulfillment of a need within the U.S. Navy, tracing twenty-five years in the history of the U.S. Navy’s underwater archaeology program.

His survey extends from the initial recognition of underwater cultural heritage sites in the 1980s to international cooperation at the site of the CSS Alabama off the coast of France to the formal establishment of the program in 1996 and beyond.

https://www.history.navy.mil/.../25-years-in-the-making...

#UnderwaterArchaeology

Biographical Statement Dr. Alexis Catsambis is a maritime archaeologist with the Underwater Archaeology Branch of the U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command in Washington, DC. Since 2008, he has provided for the stewardship, research, conservation, and curation of submerged U.S. Navy heritage sites...

07/23/2021

AI spots shipwrecks from the ocean surface – and even from the air

Check out this article from our 2020 NREIP intern Leila Character on how she used AI for identifying wreck sites.
https://theconversation.com/ai-spots-shipwrecks-from-the-ocean-surface-and-even-from-the-air-163794

For those in academia and archaeology you can find her full open access article "Archaeologic Machine Learning for Shipwreck Detection Using Lidar and Sonar" by Leila Character here: https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/13/9/1759

It's difficult to tell a shipwreck from a natural feature on the ocean floor in a scan taken from a plane or ship. This project used deep learning to get it right 92% of the time.

06/21/2021

Click the link to read about the 2021 Revenge survey and what they found on site during this project. What do you think these artifacts would tell us about the wreck?

https://usnhistory.navylive.dodlive.mil/2021/06/11/perrys-revenge-revisited-2/

05/27/2021

Time to check in on our field team in RI. This second week the team was able to proceed with dive operations to continue documenting the site and finding its extent. A hand-held metal detector was used to locate and inspect magnetic signatures that were picked up last week during the remote sensing portion.

Blog will be coming soon, so keep a look out!

05/24/2021

ECPN Interview: Pre-Program Internships in Archaeological Conservation

For students interested in archaeological conservation of artifacts from underwater: The Emerging Conservation Professionals Network (ECPN) recently interviewed our Lab to discuss our internship program, how it works, and highlight past intern projects. If you know of any students that would find this interesting please feel free to share this post with them.
https://community.culturalheritage.org/blogs/keara-teeter/2021/05/15/ecpn-interview-in-archaeological-conservation

The Emerging Conservation Professionals Network (ECPN) works to serve ECPs at all levels, from pre-program to early career. This blog series aims to highlight pre-program experiences and opportunities through interviews with internship supervisors from a wide range of specialties. These individuals....

05/20/2021

UA is currently out in the field off Rhode Island to investigate more of the suspected Oliver Hazard Perry’s Revenge wreck site. This week we are conducting remote sensing and will follow up with divers to groundtruth potential targets. Keep on the lookout for an upcoming blog on the preliminary results of the current documentation efforts.

04/29/2021

How is the use of an aerial drone and a magnetometer helping to find archaeological sites and specifically naval shipwrecks? Check out the latest blog from UA which describes the process and what it hopes to accomplish!
https://usnhistory.navylive.dodlive.mil/2021/04/26/nhhc-archaeology-by-land-and-by-sea-and-now-by-air/

03/25/2021

For Teachers - Webinar Series | Office of National Marine Sanctuaries

To help commemorate the 100th anniversary of Conestoga's sinking NOAA will be joined by NHHC Underwater Archaeologist Dr. Alexis Catsambis during an online webinar tonight at 7pm Eastern time. This webinar is presented by NOAA's Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary and the U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command. Register for the event in the following link:
https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/education/teachers/webinar-series.html?utm_medium=email&utm_source=GovDelivery

There is also a lot of great content on the NHHC page with Conestoga facts and history post so check it out here: https://www.facebook.com/USNHistory

The National Marine Sanctuary Webinar Series provides educators with educational and scientific expertise, resources and training to support ocean and climate literacy in the classroom. This series targets formal and informal educators that are engaging students (elementary through college) in forma...

02/10/2021

Carderock’s Unique Capabilities Help Assess Damage to Sunken Lexington

Ever thought how your skills in a different field can be applied in another? Here is an article of a collaboration between NHHC Underwater Archaeology Branch and Engineers from the Naval Surface Warfare Center Carderock to examine data from wrecks such as aircraft carrier Lexington lost during the Battle of Coral Sea in order to asses damage seen on site.
https://www.navsea.navy.mil/Media/News/SavedNewsModule/Article/2490603/carderocks-unique-capabilities-help-assess-damage-to-sunken-lexington/

USS Lexington (CV-2), often called “Lady Lex,” was commissioned at Quincy, Massachusetts, in December 1927, and was the second aircraft carrier to be commissioned by the United States Navy. Primarily

11/23/2020

Last week UA was in the Potomac River assisting the City of Alexandria and Alexandria Archaeology Museum with a survey. This local opportunity provides UA a chance to test equipment and sea trials in preparation for the NAS Patuxent River historic aircraft survey. Stay tuned for more on that survey.

03/25/2020

The Nautical Archaeology Society will be hosting lectures on maritime archaeology for those interested in learning about archaeological projects from around the globe. This Monday's lecture is on the London wreck! See below for details.

We're excited to announce the very first #CovEDTalks presenter - our very own CEO Mark Beattie-Edwards ⭐️

For those of you who missed the Discover the London - Southend's Time Capsule event in Southend, this is your chance to get up to speed with the fascinating story of the London so far, and what its prospects are for the future.

In his talk, Mark will discuss the amazing wreck of the London, which blew up in the Thames Estuary in 1665. Protected in 2010 by Historic England the site is on the Heritage At Risk Register, due to the constant erosion that is taking place on the site as it lies so close to the commercial shipping channel.

Although two small scale excavations have taken place, the only work to save material from destruction currently being undertaken is by a small dedicated team of volunteer divers from the The London Shipwreck Trust. Mark will talk not only of work to date but will also talk about plans for the future to create a facility to house and display the site for the public.

Find out more about how you can get involved in the CovED webcast series on our website here: https://www.nauticalarchaeologysociety.org/coved-talks-weekly-webcast

03/17/2020

Live now!

Join the crew aboard USS Constitution as they give a virtual tour!

01/21/2020

Some really neat cultural resource internship opportunities with the Park Service with applications being taken until the end of this week 1/24/2020. www.futureparkleaders.org

Internships opportunities for Summer 2020 are closing at the end of the week (1/24) don't miss your chance to apply!!! Valles Caldera National Preserve is seeking an #intern to focus on the development of a #geospatial model that assess cultural resources vulnerability on the landscape-scale. For more information visit www.futureparkleaders.org Photo Credit: Valles Caldera NPS
#applytoday
#internships
#summerinternship
#caldera
#cultural
#wildfire
#undergraduate
#gradschool
#nationalparkservice

01/14/2020

Cool lecture celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Trieste's dive to Challenger Deep at the National Museum of the United States Navy next thursday! If you are in DC please stop by. Info in the link. Friday the exhibit will highlight artifacts from Navy's deep underwater Archaeology sites.

Mark your calendars! The National Museum of the United States Navy is celebrating Trieste's 60th Anniversary of its visit to Challenger Deep on January 23rd at 10 a.m.

Learn more about Trieste's history here: https://www.history.navy.mil/browse-by-topic/exploration-and-innovation/bathyscaph-trieste.html

12/20/2019

Earlier this month one of our Archaeological Conservators, Shanna Daniel, gave a presentation at the Web3D Naval Visualization Workshop at the Virginia Tech Research Center on the use of 3D modeling applications currently being used by Underwater Archaeology. Presentation in the link:https://www.web3d.org/sites/default/files/attachment/node/2435/edit/NHHC%20UA%20Presentation_Shanna%20Daniel.pdf

12/20/2019

Earlier this month one of our Archaeological Conservators, Shanna Daniel, gave a presentation at the Web3D Naval Visualization Workshop at the Virginia Tech Research Center on the use of 3D modeling applications currently being used by Underwater Archaeology. Presentation in the link:

https://www.web3d.org/sites/default/files/attachment/node/2435/edit/NHHC%20UA%20Presentation_Shanna%20Daniel.pdf

10/01/2019

NREIP

There are 30+ Navy labs to choose from in the NREIP program. The application period for summer 2020 internships closes November 1st so be sure to apply! Want to know how your skills can apply to Underwater archaeology? Send us a message and chat with our maritime archaeologist and archaeological conservators!

https://nreip.asee.org/

08/08/2019

#OTD in 2000 - After sinking 136 years earlier, the Confederate submarine H. L. Hunley was raised from the seabed near the mouth of the harbor at Charleston, SC.

Learn more about the discovery, recovery, and restoration from the NHHC Underwater Archaeology Branch page below!

https://go.usa.gov/xyJBm

04/25/2019

It's #bringyourkidtoworkday at the Washington Navy Yard! We're so happy to have all of you here. As well as teaching kids about Navy History through an archaeological dig activity and dive gear demenstration! Parents from the base also learned that the the Navy actually has an Underwater Archaeology unit! Just goes to show NHHC has a lot to offer and there is something for everyone. #history #navyhistory #usnavy #museum #funwithkids

03/28/2019

The Fates of the Six Frigates Created by the Naval Act of 1794

The Fates of the Six Frigates Created by the Naval Act of 1794

By MC3 Casey Scoular, USS Constitution Public Affairs George Washington gives us perhaps one of the greatest quotes to describe our Navy's important role. In a

03/14/2019

The Epic Hunt for a Lost World War II Aircraft Carrier

The wreckage of USS Wasp (CV 7) has been located!

Sunk in 1942, a team of researchers aboard RV Petrel located the World War II-era aircraft carrier at a depth of approximately 14,000 feet.

NHHC UA was fortunate enough to have researchers on board during this latest expedition as well to help with locating and documentation of the finds.

For more of the story, check out the article from The New York Times.

In 1942, a volley of torpedoes sent the U.S.S. Wasp to the bottom of the Pacific. For decades, the families of the dead wondered where in the lightless depths of the ocean the ship could possibly be. Earlier this year, a team of wreck hunters set out to find it.

03/13/2019

Marine Mammals: The Navy’s Super Searchers | U. S. Naval Undersea Museum

While this piece is about the history of the Navy's Marine Mammal program, Navy Mammals have also contributed vastly to underwarter archaeological research most notably in the find of Howell Torpedo back in 2013.

MARINE MAMMALS: THE NAVY’S SUPER SEARCHERS When the U.S. Navy needs to locate an object underwater, it calls on unusual allies: the dolphins and sea lions of the Navy Marine Mammal Program. Navy dolphins and sea lions can find undersea objects faster and better than human divers and undersea vehic...

02/26/2019

RV Petrel announced the discovery of USS Strong, a WWII destroyer sunk on July 5, 1943. Read the story about how, with less than a year of active service, the ship set a standard for initiative and toughness here --> http://usnhistory.navylive.dodlive.mil/2019/02/22/strong-crew-and-rescue-set-sailor-standards-for-initiative-and-toughness/?fbclid=IwAR2IAfkNMCWHpiyBbicmaMH5VZVHL5EBPUK65YLsY6YhakyQRYrHLsq6ydo

Sunk on the morning of July 5, 1943 by torpedoes from a group of destroyers led by the IJN Niizuki. It's said to be one of the longest torpedo shots of WWII. The Strong was a Fletcher class destroyer and is in 300 meters of water.

02/21/2019

The End of Hornet – Part 1

As a young Sailor, Richard Nowatzki served aboard USS Hornet (CV-8) through the commissioning, the famed Doolittle Raid, the Battle of Midway, and was aboard when Hornet was sunk near the island of Santa Cruz in 1942.

With the recent discovery of Hornet, join us as we dive into Nowatzki’s first-hand account as he shares his experiences in the extraordinarily brutal and dangerous environment of combat at sea.

Click the link below to read part one of his story.
Parts:2 & 3 to this story are on the NHHCs' main page.

As a 19-year-old seaman who had been in the Navy for about a year and a half, Richard Nowatzki's ship USS Hornet (CV 8) was mortally wounded in the intense

02/12/2019

Wreckage of World War II aircraft carrier USS Hornet discovered

I am sure a lot of you have been keeping up with the news this morning, but if you havn't R/V Petrel just announced finding aircraft carrier USS Hornet (CV-6). NHHC is looking forward to reviewing the data once it is made available.

Take a look:

The USS Hornet is best known for launching the important Doolittle Raid in April of 1942 and its role in winning the Battle of Midway